A Puzzled Look

  My wife’s family loves to do puzzles.  Over the years her father would put out a large (2000-5000 piece) puzzle every couple of years and the family would stand around and work on it over conversation.  It was regularly at the center of activity during family gatherings.

Joyous puzzling was a foreign concept to me.  I’m a bit too impatient for it.  Yet, I learned to appreciate how they worked together on a common goal in fellowship.  My father-in-law would often find puzzles of great artwork to assemble.  He loved art and would immerse himself in the photo as he completed it.

Over the holidays Rose underwent two ankle surgeries to repair a torn tendon.  She was pretty miserable as she could not bear weight on one leg for many weeks.  A friend with a similar love gave her a 2000 piece puzzle of Da Vinci’s famous painting of The Last Supper.  Rose took this on as her Lenten spiritual discipline.  I did not help…

Her goal was to complete the puzzle by Holy Week.  As you can see, mission accomplished.  Rose would sit on the floor, with her foot iced and elevated, meticulously working the puzzle.  She immersed herself in the art – Jesus in fellowship with his precious disciples – and reflected on the sacrifice he gave for her and for us all.

I have often said that the church is like a puzzle.  Every piece is needed for it to be complete.  In these days, when we experience and reflect upon the Last Supper, betrayal, trial and crucifixion of Jesus, I hope you will immerse yourself into it in worship or other ways that make your soul come alive.  If you do, you will find the joy of Easter much more sweet.  When you do, I pray that you come to understand how necessary you are in God’s work in the world.

I also hope and pray that you will be able to find someone who helps you to focus on most important things.  For me this is Rose.  We are blessed when we have people who, by their own spiritual disciplines, faithfully lead us to the best of ourselves.

Peace,

Pastor Greg